Kaylynn Kaps

News Reporter

The new College Center can leave students and faculty in awe. The building is twice the size of the old center torn down February 2009. Many students and faculty members have said that the $30 million project and 18 months to build was well worth it.

The College Center celebrated its opening for students on Wednesday. Campus radio station KMSA 91.3 played music while students had the chance to win prizes such as an iPod Touch, an iPod Shuffle, and two $25 MavMoney certificates.

“There is also a social component (to college), and for that you need a hub,” said Dana Nunn, spokesman for the college. “I believe the College Center is that hub. It’s the living room part of the campus.”

The old W.W. Campbell College Center was built when there were about 2,000 students attending MSC and now there are approximately 8,000. Attendance was around 6,000 students when a decision was made to build a bigger one. This decision came from the students, because funding for the building came from student fees.

“This College Center will benefit students because they will be more willing to stay and finish their education,” Nunn said. “The College Center, Maverick Center, classroom settings, those facilities make people want to stay there and finish their degree, if you want to be here then you are most likely to stay here and finish your degree.”

Katie Schultz, the director of communications for ASG is looking forward to the amount of room for on campus organizations.

“It will be nice to have this central location in the student life area,” Schultz said. “Before the College Center opened,our offices were spread out around campus which made it more difficult to communicate. By having this central location in the College Center, it will be easier for students to find us if anyone has a problem, concern or a complaint. We are hoping that we will be more visible to the students by being in this location.”

Junior Courtney Phillipy was around to experience the old College Center.

“The old building was really small, there wasn’ t a lot of room to do anything, and it was really dark too,” Phillipy said. “The new building is so nice. I was in shock when I first walked in. I like how I can hang out there and socialize with friends.”

Sophomore Cecily Doakes compared the College Center to the Maverick Pavilion.

“I like all the room that we have now. It’ s so much better than being in a tent when you are eating,” Doakes said. “One thing that will be very helpful is being able to access the College Center 24 hours. My favorite areas in the College Center are the game room and ballroom dance floor. It’s a great way for students to socialize.”

kkaps@mesastate.edu